Question: Is Heavenly Bamboo a True Bamboo?
No. Heavenly bamboo is another bamboo-imposter....
Answer:
"Heavenly bamboo" is simply a nickname for nandina (Nandina domestica). Nandina is an evergreen shrub in planting zones 6-10 and reaches about 8 feet in height (although dwarf nandinas do exist). Its stems resemble bamboo, thus the nickname. Nandina produces white or pinkish blossoms that occur in terminal clusters. During the fall, so-called "heavenly bamboo" diplays red fall foliage; in winter, it bears red berries. This attractive specimen can sometimes be an invasive plant outside its native range (East Asia).
In the final FAQ we'll take a look at one more bamboo-imposter....
